Our apartment complex (owned by HOME PROPERTIES) uses ISTA for water, sewer, and gas. During the months of Oct-Jan we had literally no heat. During that time our ISTA bill was about $100.00 a month.
Since January we have been unable to turn our heat off, our thermostat is off, heat is blowing out of the vents, and some days we have all the windows open. It has been warm in PA the last few months and we thought that by turning it all the way off, our bills would be reduced. However, each month the bill is higher. Our electric bill has went down over the last few months and we are not the type that remembers to turn off the lights or tv. We pay more to live in an apartment than we paid in our last HOME.
How is it that ISTA can pick a figure and then divide it by a miscellaneous number and we MUST pay it or be evicted? It is now considered "rent" for our complex so if we refuse to pay unless they give us accurrate readings, we could be evicted. When we moved in we were told that we would pay what we actually use; SO it doesn't matter how many showers we take or if someone's toilet is broken. We are being forced to pay for it.
These people are contracted by apartment companies to take more money out of the renter's pockets. They will not give us any information as to how they come up with these figures, or why they will not turn our heat on in the coldest part of winter or turn it off in the spring. We'r forced to freeze or burn up whether we like it or not. And on top of that, we get to pay to be miserable. But without ISTA bill, we would break our lease and could be sued. So we're stuck til August.
Research your apartment complex more thoroughly and ask specifically if you'll pay for actual usage. Apartment complexes LOVE ISTA but how to the tenants feel about it?
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